Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Ultimate Guide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is one of the most hazardous gases found in the home. Known as the “silent killer,” CO gas is colorless, odorless, tasteless and non-irritating, yet it can result in unconsciousness, brain damage or death. Because of this, more than 400 people suffer fatal carbon monoxide poisoning each year, a higher fatality rate compared to any other type of poisoning.

While the weather gets colder, you seal your home for the winter and count on heating appliances to remain warm. These situations are when the danger of carbon monoxide exposure is highest. The good news is you can protect your family from a gas leak in a variety of ways. One of the most effective methods is to put in CO detectors around your home. Try this guide to better understand where carbon monoxide is produced and how to reap the benefits of your CO detectors.

What causes carbon monoxide in a house?

Carbon monoxide is a byproduct of something burned. Therefore, this gas can appear when a fuel source is ignited, including natural gas, propane, oil, charcoal, gasoline, woo, and more. Frequent causes of carbon monoxide in a house include:

Blocked up clothes dryer vent

Broken down water heater
Furnace or boiler with a damaged heat exchanger
Closed fireplace flue while a fire is lit
Improperly vented gas or wood stove
Vehicle running in the garage

Portable generator, grill, power tool or lawn equipment being used in the garage

Do smoke detectors detect carbon monoxide?

No, smoke detectors do not detect carbon monoxide. Instead, they start an alarm when they detect a certain amount of smoke produced by a fire. Possessing reliable smoke detectors lowers the risk of dying in a house fire by nearly 55 percent.

Smoke detectors are available in two main forms—ionization detectors and photoelectric detectors. Ionization detection works best with fast-moving fires that produce large flames, while photoelectric detectors are more effective with smoldering, smoky fires. Some newer smoke detectors include both types of alarms in a single unit to maximize the chance of responding to a fire, no matter how it burns.

Obviously, smoke detectors and CO alarms are equally beneficial home safety devices. If you look up at the ceiling and notice an alarm of some kind, you might not realize whether it’s a smoke detector or a carbon monoxide alarm. The visual difference depends on the brand and model you have. Here are a few factors to consider:

Quality devices are clearly labeled. If not, try to find a brand and model number on the back of the detector and find it online. You will also find a manufacture date. If the device is older than 10 years, replace it as soon as possible.
Plug-in devices that draw power from an outlet are almost always carbon monoxide alarms]]94. The device {should be labeled so.
Some alarms are two-in-one, sensing both smoke and carbon monoxide with an indicator light for each. That being said, it can be hard to tell with no label on the front, so reviewing the manufacturing details on the back is smart.

How many carbon monoxide detectors do I need in my home?

The number of CO alarms you need is determined by your home’s size, number of floors and the number of bedrooms. Follow these guidelines to provide complete coverage:

Install carbon monoxide detectors around sleeping areas: CO gas leaks are most likely at night when furnaces are running constantly to keep your home warm. As a result, each bedroom should have a carbon monoxide alarm installed about 15 feet of the door. If multiple bedroom doors are less than 30 feet apart, just one detector is adequate.
Install detectors on each floor: Concentrated carbon monoxide buildup can become caught on a single floor of your home, so try to have at least one CO detector on each floor.
Put in detectors within 10 feet of the internal garage door: Many people end up leaving their cars idling in the garage, producing dangerous carbon monoxide buildup, even while the large garage door is completely open. A CO alarm just inside the door—and in the room over the garage—alerts you of increased carbon monoxide levels within your home.
Install detectors at the appropriate height: Carbon monoxide features a weight similar to air, but it’s often carried upward in the hot air produced by combustion appliances. Putting in detectors near the ceiling is ideal to catch this rising air. Models with digital readouts are best located at eye level to keep them easy to read.
Add detectors about 15 feet from combustion appliances: Certain fuel-burning machines emit a tiny, non-toxic amount of carbon monoxide as they first start running. This disperses quickly, but when a CO detector is nearby, it may trigger false alarms.

Install detectors away from high heat and humidity: Carbon monoxide detectors have certain tolerances for heat and humidity. To minimize false alarms, try not to install them in bathrooms, in strong sunlight, near air vents, or close to heat-generating appliances.

How do I test/troubleshoot a carbon monoxide alarm?

Depending on the model, the manufacturer may encourage monthly tests and resetting to ensure proper functionality. Also, replace the batteries in battery-powered units after 6 months. For hardwired units, replace the backup battery every year or when the alarm is chirping, whichever comes first. Then, replace the CO detector entirely after 10 years or according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

How to test your carbon monoxide alarm

All it takes is a minute to test your CO sensor. Review the instruction manual for directions unique to your unit, knowing that testing follows this general process:

Press and hold the Test button. It may take 5 to 20 seconds for the alarm to go off.
Loud beeping signifies the detector is operating correctly.
Release the Test button and wait for two fast beeps, a flash or both. If the device continues beeping when you let go of the button, press and hold it again for five seconds to stop it.

Swap out the batteries if the unit isn’t performing as expected after the test. If replacement batteries don’t change anything, replace the detector immediately.

How to reset your carbon monoxide alarm

You only need to reset your unit after the alarm goes off, after a test or after changing the batteries. Some models automatically reset themselves in 10 minutes of these events, while others require a manual reset. The instruction manual will note which function applies.

Use these steps to reset your CO detector manually:

Press and hold the Reset button for 5 to 10 seconds.
Release the button and wait for a beep, a flash or both.

If you don’t get a beep or observe a flash, start the reset again or replace the batteries. If that doesn’t help either, troubleshoot your carbon monoxide alarm with assistance from the manufacturer, or get rid of the faulty detector.

What should I do if a carbon monoxide alarm is triggered?

Use these steps to safeguard your home and family:

Do not disregard the alarm. You may not be able to recognize unsafe levels of carbon monoxide until it’s too late, so expect the alarm is operating correctly when it is triggered.
Evacuate all people and pets immediately. If you can, open windows and doors on your way out to attempt to weaken the concentration of CO gas.
Call 911 or the local fire department and inform them that the carbon monoxide alarm has started.

Do not assume it’s safe to reenter your home when the alarm is no longer beeping. Opening windows and doors may help air it out, but the root cause may still be generating carbon monoxide.
When emergency responders show up, they will search your home, assess carbon monoxide levels, check for the source of the CO leak and determine if it’s safe to come back inside. Depending on the cause, you may need to request repair services to stop the problem from recurring.

Find Support from Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing

With the appropriate precautions, there’s no need to fear carbon monoxide inhalation in your home. In addition to installing CO alarms, it’s important to maintain your fuel-burning appliances, namely as winter gets underway.

The team at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is ready to inspect, clean, diagnose and repair issues with furnaces, boilers, water heaters and other combustion appliances. We recognize which signs could mean a possible carbon monoxide leak— including excessive soot, rusted flue pipes and a yellow, flickering burner flame—along with the necessary repairs to resolve them.

Do you still have questions or concerns about CO exposure? Is it time to schedule annual heating services? Contact Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing for more information.